Anita Gives Away $645,000
- Cook County taxpayers will be on the hook for a $645,549 legal bill tied to a court fight between the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and the county’s top prosecutor over the highly contentious — and now essentially dead — ban on people recording police officers on the job.
The Cook County board will take up the matter on Wednesday.
In 2010, the ACLU of Illinois sued Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez to halt prosecution of ACLU staff members recording police officers working their beats in public places.
While the case was initially thrown out in federal court in Chicago, the ACLU of Illinois and state’s attorney fought all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In November, justices upheld a lower court ruling that said the Illinois’ eavesdropping law violates free speech rights when it comes to audio recording police officer working the beat on a city street, park or any other public space.
The case was effectively tossed back to the federal court in Chicago and in December U.S. District Court Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman issued a permanent injunction, barring Alvarez from prosecuting cases where ACLU staffers are recording officers in a public space.
Anita knew better. Or took advice from people who should have known better. And is doing the same thing again in regard to 2nd Amendment Rights in Illinois. And it just cost Cook County nearly three-quarters of a million bucks. We have a dozen or more beefs with the ACLU and the criminals they represent, but the First Amendment is their bread and butter - they don't screw up that one too often.
Labels: county, dumb ideas
posted by SCC at 12:01 AM
24 Comments:
Anita knew better. Or took advice from people who should have known better. And is doing the same thing again in regard to 2nd Amendment Rights in Illinois. And it just cost Cook County nearly three-quarters of a million bucks.
No worries. The 2nd Amendment fight will cost us much, much more.
The city lawyers are sure racking up the doe.
Rahm budgeted $27 million dollars for court battles and we've blown thru all of that and are currently beyond $32 (33% over budget) million paid out in settlements and this is only March.
We'll soon have the 2nd amendment cases and the pension cases. Job security for the city lawyers.
These are tools like Sandyhook is a tool. A tool that can be used to create more revenue thru fines, fees, licenses and court battles.
How about we ban some sugary soft drinks and highly caffeinated beverages that ought to create more work for the cities clouted law firms.
Oh you know who else is suing the city? WalMart. WalMart is suing because a liquor license was denied at some mini WalMart near Rush st.
The ACLU long ago decided who is the enemy in their warped way of thinking...the police. If it weren't for the police and military there would be no liberty, just chaos and anarchy, every man for himself. Which means the only right is that which comes from might. Pretty picture. No thanks.
What could account for Alvarez' & her puppet master/s pissing away money like this?
Judgement shopping (on our dime) our keeping the Lawyers who vote for these idiots happy.
Old lawyer here. I have battled with the ACLU on behalf of the city and the police. The ACLU's lawyers are the poster children of the "Lawyers Suck" movement. And for good reason: Just a bunch of "We know what is best for the rest of you" turds. They're feral and should be put down. But . . . I can't do that, as I can't carry. Surrounded; a "Walking Dead" nightmare!
No one ever said that a crook county prosecutor was required to be a legal eagle. The only requirement is that they do the bidding of the machine. The machine has a number of attorney's that they "use". They aren't the brightest candles on the cake either. As for the money wasted, they don't care, it's theirs to throw around, or so they believe.
"but the First Amendment is their bread and butter - they don't screw up that one too often."
But can't they just ban part of the 1st Amendment? Then do we REALLY need all of the 4th Amendment,REALLY? Come on all these Amendments are old they should be retired or just laid-off for awhile.
Rules Rules Rules they just get in the way in this State. . County. . . and City.
You can video the police anywhere. You can go film them even while they're eating lunch, there's no law against that.
Instead of hitting tax payers with these ridiculous judgements, when they are a result of stupid actions by the politicians, the payment, or a percentage, should come directly from their salaries.
The idiots in Naperville locked up a woman filming them.
Check out the smart-meter arrests in Naperville.
probably listened to Tiny and the streetlightassassin.
or better yet LilPrincessLisa and her ogre father Madigan.
If it was so obvious that the eavesdropping law was unconstitutional when filming cops, why did CPD charge it in the first place? Under the ACLU position criminals can record cops, but cops need a court order to record criminals. Sorry SCC, Anita was right to fight this one.
It has nothing to with being a Legal Eagle! It's all about politics, Anita can now go back to her constituents and say, " I did my best, it's those nine on the S. Ct. who don't feel your pain". Therby some twits will vote for her, same as that bastard Daley in the late 90's with his gang ordinance. It helped cement his position with the various elements of the Black and Lakefront Liberals. You see, the $$$$ doesn't come from their pockets it comes from our pockets. Look for Lisa Madigan to do the same on Carried and Concealed. All politics and no reality!
Why do we have the worst of the worst politicians in Illinois? They waste and spend money like they have a tree that grows it. It's the same group all the time too. Chicago DEMOCRATS!
Anita,Rham,Toni and the rest of our elected officials should take a ride thru the city and county and take a good look around and better take note that there is no business left to support the lottery machine that they think they have. Beware we cant pay for all this shit.
The ACLU is in the right on this one. If you want to blame anybody, blame the corrupt asshole politicians and their appointed stooges who thought the Crook County Machine could act like the KGB and get away with it.
I thought federal court opinions were merely advisory in nature and not binding on Illinois agencies. at least that's the position taken by ASA Paul Castiglione when testifying before a house committee debating a ccw law. Freaking morons.
I'm surprised Rahm doesn't "kick the can" of these lawsuits down the road like Daley did. Or, are these the result of court settlements from back then?
Me thinks she was trying to stick up for the popo on this and of course everyone finds something wrong with it, if she did not fight it someone would bitch
Me thinks she was trying to stick up for the popo on this and of course everyone finds something wrong with it, if she did not fight it someone would bitch
3/16/2013 03:56:00 PM
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Unless the other someone actually read the Constitution.
Anonymous said...
Me thinks she was trying to stick up for the popo on this and of course everyone finds something wrong with it, if she did not fight it someone would bitch
3/16/2013 03:56:00 PM
Because there is something wrong with this.
How many times does that type of case have to be adjudicated?
She NEVER sticks up for the Police. NEVER.
What's with this ghetto popo shit?
You need to rethink this SCC. The public can record the police, but the police cannot record the public. That's what this is about. You owe Anita an apology. She was right on this.
Anonymous said...
Anita,Rham,Toni and the rest of our elected officials should take a ride thru the city and county and take a good look around and better take note that there is no business left to support the lottery machine that they think they have. Beware we cant pay for all this shit.
3/16/2013 11:35:00 AM
They think that we can pay. I just received notice from my Mortgage lender that they were notified that the County is raising their portion of my property tax and my payment will be adjusted according to the increase. $19.42 for now... Will it ever end??? Is it to make up for the unpaid A.N.O.V. fines??
Some dip said "The public can record the police, but the police cannot record the public. "
... ever hear of dash cam?
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